Fine structural and cytochemical observations on lamellar bodies in nerve cells of the medulla oblongata of the rat

Abstract

Stuctures identified as lamellar bodies have observed in neurons of the dorsal sensory nucleus of the vagus of the rat medulla oblongata. They consist of stacks of parallel, regularly spaced cisternae which either run straight or curve forming a whorl. Finely textured, electron-dense fibrils are present between adjacent cisternae which are devoid of ribosomes. Ribosomes are attached only to the outermost surface of outer cisternae which are often continous with rough endoplasmic reticulum. Cytochemical studies reveal that these intercisternal fibrils contain abundant amino and imidazole groups as well as carboxyl groups. It is suggested that lamelar bodies arise by close alignment of parallel rough surfaced cisternae with subsqent loss of ribosomes from their surface. In addition, it is inferred that polar groups of intercisternal fibrils play an important role in the regular arrangement of cisternal membranes and in the dissociation of ribosomes from cisternae.

Ultrastructural study of lamellar and nucleolus‐like bodies in the harderian gland during postnatal development of the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

“…In our study we describe the ultrastructure of lamellar and nucleolus-like bodies in the hamster HG during postnatal development, speculating on their possible functional role in the course of differentiation. The simultaneous appearance of these structures has been described in several types of cells (Le Beux, 1972;Kishi, 1975;Hervas and Lafarga, 1980;Suarez et al;, but up to the present there are no reports on their occurrence in HG cells.…”

Ultrastructural Features and Acetylcholinesterase Histochemistry of the Rat Habenular Complex

“…Finally, the higher level of AChE synthesis found in the present study in LHb neurons, is consis tent with the fact that lesions involving LHb cause a greater decrease of AChE staining in the fasciculus retroflexus than lesions restricted to the MHb [ Flumerfelt and Con testabile, 1982], Several noticeable ultrastructural arrangements were observed in the course of the present study in some habenular neurons. Laminar bodies and nucleolus-like bodies correspond to ultrastructural features previously described in other types of neurons [Grillo, 1970;Kishi, 1975;Milhouse, 1978;Kolde and Themann, 1982], Several hypotheses put forward in order to explain their role in the neuronal metabo lism are still inconclusive. The labyrinthine arrangement of the endoplasmic reticulum noticed in some neurons of the MHb has not, to our knowledge, been described in other neurons.…”